Tourniquet



May 17, 1960 J. L. YUHAS TOURNIQUET Filed Sept. 3, 1957 nv/ navd United StatesPatentO This invention relates to compression devices and more particularly it is an object of this invention to provide an improved tourniquet readily applied in cases of accident to the largest or smallest members of the body to restrict the flow of blood and arrest bleeding.

Another object is to provide a tourniquet comprising the novel arrangement of an elongated hollow elastic tube having a suitable gas under pressure sealed therein and a fastening member, wherein the tube, when engaged with the fastening member, will seek a predetermined pressure about the body member whereby injury and the destruction of tissue is prevented while suflicient pressure is maintained.

' A further object is to provide a tourniquet'of such a construction that the injured person, sufficiently in comriiand of his faculties, may apply the device unaided.

I am aware that I am not .the first to conceive of the use of a closed tube for use in a tourniquet. However to myknowledge I am the first to use a closed gas containparts broken awayfor clarity and the fastener and one ing tube in combination with a buckle or cleatingdevice.

Another object is to provide a tourniquet that may be applied and drawn as tightly asdesired but is automatically self-adjusting to a preferred and predetermined pressure so as .not to injure tissue or otherwise cause complications due to excessive pressure as has been common heretofore.

' A further object is to provide a tourniquet as described in further combination with a suitable'localized pressureapplying means which is adjustable along the tube for positioning at any desired area.

Yet another object of the inventionis to provide a tourniquet of simple construction and efiicient in operation and capable of use in other and varied fields requiring a quickly applied fast locking fastener.

Still a further object is to provide a tourniquet having in combination a localized pressure applying means which may be engaged and disengaged from the-tourniquet with ease for exact placement with respect to the wound.

Yet a furtherobject of this invention isto provide a tourniquet applicable to the largest or smallest member of the body or to encompass the trunk and by attaching the. localized pressure ring may be used for securing a bandage or compress and occlude an open chest or abdominal wound. a

This application is a continuation in part of the applicants co-pending patent application Serial No. 592,080, filed Iune 18, 1956..

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited. to the. drawings themselves asthe drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in which the principles'of this invention can .be applied.

In the drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of the tourniquet of this invention;

Figure 2 is av perspective view of the invention in op eration as applied to a member of the body;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the tourniquet with some pressure applying means shown in diametrical cross sec tion;

Figure 4 is a perspective 'view of the tourniquet illustrating the use of the pressure applying means to hold a compress on a wound;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 showing the use of the localized pressure applying snap-on ring with respect to a wound; and

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified fastening member.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 designates the tourniquet assembly of this invention in its entirety which comprises an elongated hollow tube 12,,a buckle or fastening collar 14 and a local pressure applying disc 16.

The elongated hollow tube 12 is formed of an elastic material such as vinyl chloride'plastic and which contains a pre-injected gas, the ends 18 being sealed to entrap the gas therein. Any suitable gas may be used but Ihave found it is best to exclude oxygen because of its oxidation deterioration characteristic.

The buckle or fastening collar 14 is of cylindrical shape and preferably formed of sufficiently non-elastic material such as polyethylene plastic. q

The fastening collar 14is secured to one end of the tube 12 by a self-locking arrangement including two lo'ngi-' tudinally spaced apart apertures 20 and 22, of lesser diameter than the tube 12, provided in one side of the collar 14.

In assembly, a first end of the tube 12 is introduced interiorly of the collar 14 and forced through thelower aperture 20.. The length of the tube is drawn therethrou gh and outwardly thereof until the second end abuts the interior wall surface surrounding the interior opening I Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same i pur ew; tt q app nd sk es, M

of the aperture 20.

The first end of the tube 12 is forced through the upper aperture 22 and inwardly of the collar 14. The length of the tube 12 is drawn through the aperture 22 and extends downwardly and outwardly of the lower end of the collar 14. The first end of the tube 12 may be passed through the collar 14 from the lower end and outwardly of the upper end whereby an intermediate portion of th tube 12 forms a loop 30.

On the side wall of the collar 14 opposite from the apertures 20 and 22 a slot 32 is provided therein opening upon the upper edge of the wall and extending downwardly therefrom. The entrance end 34 of the slot 32is of greater width than the intermediate portion 36 but also.

is of lesser width than the normal diameter of the tube 12.

' As thus described, it will be seen that the intermediate portion of the tube 12 may be readily drawn through'the. collar 14 butjwhen forced into the slot 32 into the "posi-. tion shown in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5 in which position it. will be firmly held, thereby permitting the tube 12 orthe intermediate portion 30 thereof to form a loop of; any desired size. I ,4 t

The pressure applying disc 16 maybe detachablysecured on the tube 12 by means of a pair of apertures and 42 disposed transversely therethrough, The fre'e a, A o

of thetube may be passed downwardly through the first aperture 40, across the undersurface of the disc 16 and upwardly through the second aperture 42, as best seen in Figure 3.

The disc is furtherprovided. with: a downwardly extending circumferential flange 44 which serves to'space the: disc above the surface of the member to which it is applied.

, The disc is formed of a material of snfi'iciently nonelastic character such as polyethyleneplastic- Thedescribed mounting of the disc allows sliding adjustment thereof upon the tube for positioning the pressure disc over-a desired area su'ch as uponan artery or vein. And

as illustratedin Figure 4 may be used to apply localpres sure and hold a bandage or compress 4Supona wound aswell. e

Itisfurther my concept to provideaccessories to be used in combination with the tourniquet which are readily engaged. and dis-engaged from the tube 12. In the arrangement shown in Figure 5, I show a localized pressure applying ring50 of cylindrical shape and of suflicient height to allow the provision of two upwardly opening tube simply by. pressing the. tube in the. slots 52, thereby" engaging and holding it firmly in: the desired position.

Figure. 6 illustrates a modified fastening. collar 60.

The compressibility and. holding power of the tourniquet may be varied, as may be desirable, by either increasing the .gas pressure in the tube and/or increasing theisize of the tube and. by roughing, notching or otherwise serrating those surfaces of the collar 14 over which the tube 12 passes in use to increase frictional engagement. This is shown in Figure 6 as applied to the lower end of the collar 14 and the walls of the terminal end or aperture 330i slot 32 as indicated by the numerals 62- and64 respectively.

As, best seen in Figures 1, 4 and 6. the intermediate portion 3.6 of the slot 32 is diagonally disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the collar. When the tube 12 is engaged in. the slot, thesolid portion immediately above the tube will resist any normal upward movement ofthe tube.

i In operation, the device may be applied to a finger, hand, a limb or other member of the body by passing the tube 12 therearound and by passing the free end of the tube through the fastening collar 14 from the bottom. By pulling on the free end'of the tube 12 the latter may be drawn as tight as desired. Then the end of the tube is drawn sharply downwardly whereby an intermediate portion of thetube is pulled down into the slot 32 where it is firmly fastened in a detachable manner and the tourniquet is held in the desired position as best seen in Figure 2.

. It. is important to understand that a tourniquet constructed in accordance with this invention is characteri'zed by afiexible tube having a pre-inj'ected gas sealed therein and a fastener secured at one, end thereof, with Which. the opposite end may be instantly frictionally en;

aged, 7 V

g Most tourniquets of the prior art and tourniquets of. the improvised, type, when improperly applied, have causediirreparable damage to the members upon which they were applied. Tourniquets improperly applied can, cause, damage to the skin and'muscle tissue, nerves and blood vessels. If the damage is excessive, amputation, is the only recourse. The tourniquet of the instant invention provides a safe and versatileappliance that may be applied by anunskilled person or by even the injuredhimself without assistance.

"easeme- The flexible tube, which I prefer to form of vinyl chloride plastic, has a gentle elasticity characteristic and can be distorted out of shape but tends to seek its normal shape.

The gas sealed in the tube cushions the member to which it is applied which prevents damage to tissue and nerves and tends to maintain the position of the device.

The gas sealed in the tube of this tourniquet under atmospheric pressure will hold 60 millimeters of mercury compression pressure at all pointsaround the member to which it is applied as measured in the manner used in blood pressure indicating machines of the'commonly used wrap-around inflatable type.

The tourniquet of the instant invention will automatically adjust to a predetermined compression pressure due to the fact that even though the slot 32 firmly' engages the tube 12 the latter is not so restricted as to prevent selfequalizing of the gas pressure therein wherebyit will automatically adjustv to:- the predetermined compressionindex finger and by holding the middle finger against the.

collar, the. tube maybe pulled up. and outof engagement with the slot- It will be seen that the. first opening throughwhich the.

intermediatev portion. of the flexible member 12 passes is specifically the lower opening through. the collar 14 and. thatv the edge of this opening provides a. surface giving desired frictional resistance to slippage of the flexible:

member 12 thereacross, andthe same edge also serves in the manner of a. pulley providing a pulley-like function; for directing the pulling force of the flexible member 12 upwardly toward. the slot 34 which is in efiect a jam notch or jam slot because its lower end 38 is of lesser size than the cross sectional area of the flexible member 12.. It will be seen that the open lower end of the collar 14 provides a first opening in the collar. which is adapted. to be placed adjacent to the patients skin and also it will. be seen that a second opening is provided by the openv upper end of. the collar 14 which is therefore disposable in a position spaced away from the patients skin and in-. asmuch as the slot 34 extends downwardly toward the. first opening provided by the open lower end of the col-- lar. 14, a pulling of the free end of the tube downwardly through the slot 34 toward the patients. skin tightens the, tourniquet about the patients arm, for example, with a speed and handiness vitally important to a soldier located at a great distance from medical aid.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a tourniquet constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use, by reason of'the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit'thereof, and for this reason I do not. wish to be having a. first opening adjacent one end thereof through which an intermediate portion of" said tube can be passed in use, the wall of said first opening providing frictional resistance to slippage of said tube thereover and yet per! mitting a desired amount of freedom of movement of said tube thereover, said buckle further having a second opening spaced from said first opening and also receiving an intermediate portion of said tube in use, a slot having an entrance end opening upon said second opening and said slot extending into said buckle, said entrance end being of tapered shape'larger at its outer end than at its inner end with Walls converging toward a more narrow intermediate portion of said slot'for directing said tube into said slot, said intermediate portion of said slot being of a width substantially less than the outer diameter of said tubing whereby when said tube is pulled into the intermediate portion of said slot those portions of the tube on either side of the slot are much larger than the portion received in the slot both because of the tendency of the tube to maintain its normal shape and because of the pressure of gas in said tube whereby the tendency of the tube to slip through said slot is resisted by the pressure of said gas, one end of said tube being attached to said buckle and the other end being free before use, the intermediate portion of said tube being passable around a patients limb, for example, and then extending through said first opening and then extending through and held by p a jamming into said slot, said first opening being adapted to be placed adjacent the patients skin and said second opening being therefore disposable in a position spaced away from the patients skin and said slotextending generally toward said first opening whereby a pulling of the free end of said tube downwardly toward said first opening and therefore toward the patients skin tightens said tourniquet about said limb and jams said tube into said slot, and said buckle being cylindrical in shape.

2. A compression device comprising: an elongated flexible hollow tube formed of an elastic material, said tube'having sealed ends, a gas in said tube, said tube being impervious to the passage of said gas, and a buckle having a first opening adjacent one end thereof through which an intermediate portion of said tube can be passed in use, the wall of said first opening providing frictional resistance to slippage of said tube thereover and yet permitting a desired amount of freedom of movement of said tube thereover, said buckle further having a second opening spacedrfrom said first opening and also receiving an intermediate portion of said tube in use, a slot having an entrance end opening upon said second opening and said slot extending into said buckle, said entrance end being of tapered shape larger at. its outer end than at its inner end with walls converging toward a more narrow intermediate portion of said slot for directing said tube into said slot, said intermediate portion of said slot being of a width substantially less thanthe outer diameter of said tubing whereby when said tube is pulled into the intermediate portion of said slot those portions of the tube on either side of the slot are much larger than the portion received in the slot both because of the tendency of the tube to maintain its. normal shape and because of the pressure of gas in said tube whereby the tendency of the tube to slip through said slot is resisted by the pressure of said gas, one end of said tube being 3 attached to said buckle and the other end being free before use, the intermediate portion of said tube being passa able around a patients limb, for example, and then exsaid tube into said. slot, and said buckle being cylindrical in shape, and in which said buckle is formed of a resilient material and in which those parts of said buckle are adjacent said slot are somewhat flexible whereby they are displaced out of normal position by the force of said tube thereagainst and so press against said tube in use.

3. A compression device comprising: an elongated flexible member formed of an elastic material, said elongated member being resilient, and a buckle having a first opening adjacent one end thereof through which an intermediate portion of said elongated member can be passed in use, the wall of said first opening providing frictional resistance toslippage of said flexible member thereover and yet permitting a desired amount of freedom of movement of said flexible member thereover, said buckle further having a second opening spaced from said firstopening and also receiving an intermediate portion of said elongated member in use, a slot having an entrance end which opens upon said second opening and said slot extending into said buckle, said entrance end being of tapered shape larger at its outer end than at its inner end with walls converging toward a more narrow intermediate portion of said slot for directing said elongated ,member into said slot, said intermediate portion of said slot being ofa width substantially less than the outer diameter of said elongated member whereby when said tube is pulled into the intermediate portion of said slot those portions of the elongated member on either side of the slot are much larger than the portions received in the slot because of the tendency of the elongated member to maintain its normal shape whereby the tendencyvof the elongated member to slip through said slot is resisted by the elastic nature of said flexible member, one end of said flexible member being attached to said buckle and the other end being free before use, the intermediate portion of said flexible member being passable around a patients limb, for example, and then extending through said first opening and then extending through and held by a jamming into said slot, said first opening being adapted to be placed adjacent the patients skin and said second opening being therefore disposable in a position spaced away from the patients skin and said slot extending generally toward said first opening whereby a pulling of the free end of said flexible member downwardly toward said first opening and therefore toward the patients skin tightens said device about said limb and jams said flexible 'rnember' into said notch, and a localized pressure apply- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,094,339 Lupton Apr. 21, 1914 1,252,260 Gilberg Jan. 1, 1918 2,571,461; Livingston et a1 Oct. 16, 1951 2,803,253 Campbell Aug. 20, 1957' FOREIGN PATENTS 27,068, France j Jan. 6, 1924 116,403 Australia Jan. 7, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES 7 Catheters, drains, bougies-catalog of American Cystoscope Makers, Inc., copyright 1938, page 35, cat. No. 2464. (Copy in Div. 55.) 

